On 22 September 2022 the former Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng announced that the Government would cancel the Health and Social Care Levy. What is the Health and Social Care Levy? The levy was introduced on 7 September 2021 by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. He proposed that a new 1.25% Health and Social Care Levy would be brought in across the UK to fund investment in the NHS and social care. National Insurance contributions for working age employees, self-employed people and employers was set to increase…
No, we don’t mean step 1: pick up pen, step 2: pick up paper. We’ll walk you through best practice and structure for your absence policy that will support your business and your employees. So, for starters, what should your absence management policy contain as a minimum? The reporting procedure: this should include how and when to report sickness absence. Evidence: this section covers what’s required for self-certification. It also explains when medical evidence is required, as well as any requirements to undergo examinations. Trigger points: this section covers the number of absences which would cause…
With the new tax year fast approaching, the time to switch payroll providers is now! Our recent Annual Payroll Survey saw a whopping 23% increase of companies who had switched their payroll providers in the last 12 months. Unsure if you’re settling for less? Is there better out there? Why is now the perfect time for you to switch providers? Let’s find out. Reviewing your current provider ‘We’ve used our provider for a long time, they know our payroll and switching to someone else is…
The cost-of-living crisis, impending recession and ongoing talent shortages have created a daunting economic climate for most businesses. Healthy company culture and employee satisfaction are undoubtedly key to success through this turbulent period. Here we look at 7 hot HR trends for 2023 and some top tips to help keep your employees engaged and improve their productivity this year. 1. 4-day week Paying employees 100% of their wage for 80% work is a phenomenon that fights against traditional thinking that fewer hours mean less work.…
Valentine’s Day; a time to express love and affection. Say it with chocolates, flowers, sentimental photo albums, lovey-dovey mixed tapes (…or Spotify playlists), and cards. Soppy cards, jokey cards, and avocado cards that say ‘let’s avo cuddle’. But how does HR deal with Valentine’s Day cards in the workplace? Are they appropriate amongst employees? Can a Valentine’s Day card be deemed sexual harassment? What should you do about them? And what happens if the recipient of a card raises a grievance? Read on to find out. Are Valentine’s Day cards work-appropriate? It’s not unusual to encounter long term partners and spouses in the workplace. In these instances, it’s unlikely that HR…
The pressure of the current cost-of-living crisis means that your employees may look to find additional employment and take second jobs to increase their income. As an employer, is this something you should be concerned about? We explore employee contract wording, Working Time Regulations, and the steps you need to take as an employer to stay compliant with employment law. What's written in your employment documentation about taking second jobs? Wording in employment clauses regarding ‘outside interests’ usually state something like: ‘Normally we will not…
Back in December 2019, the late Queen announced key measures her Parliament would be pursuing in 2020. What were the measures (known as the Employment Bill) and what happened to them? What are the Private Members' Bills and which ones do you need to know about? We explain all. The 2019 Employment Bill An extensive Employment Bill set out: The right to request a more predictable employment contract A week’s leave for unpaid carers Extended parental leave for neonatal care Extension of redundancy protection to…
We explain the important topic of whistleblowing. What is it? What's the procedure? How do employers handle whistleblowing reports from employees? And what about public interest disclosures or handling malicious allegations? Keep reading to find out. What is whistleblowing? The standard definition of whistleblowing is: “a person, often an employee, who reveals information about activity within a private or public organisation that is deemed illegal, immoral, illicit, unsafe or fraudulent”. Another simple definition from the government website is: ‘You’re a whistleblower if you’re a worker…
Moorepay has won the best Payroll and HR Software Product Award 2022 at the industry’s leading independent pay and reward awards. About the award The Rewards, hosted by Reward Strategy is a prestigious annual ceremony that celebrates the best movers and players in the payroll and reward space. Our software was judged by an independent panel of experts against other established providers including Advanced, Cintra, Frontier Software and SD Worx – and won as best in class. "Moorepay’s Payroll & HR Software is a game…
For many employees, major sporting events such as the World Cup, Wimbledon or the Ashes are the highlight of their year and they're keen not to miss crucial matches. Inevitably, some of the events will take place during working hours so how should employers handle requests for time off? Read on to understand what you need to consider during major sporting events including productivity levels, communicating with employees and managing sickness absence. Home and hybrid workers Employees working at home are not exempt from any…
